Repair of Interior Stairs


One (or more) or the steps in the interior stairwell going to the basement of my Manhatten brownstone (1880) is broken . The plaster beneath it is coming down and at least one of the steps is soft, but I won’t know the extent of the repair needed until the plaster underneath the steps is removed. I have a plumber/general repair person who would do the job but am thinking I might need someone who specializes in stairs. Does anyone have the name of a reliable carpenter who would charge a reasonable fee for such a repair?

Categories: Stairs
By Brownstoner | 08/31/2005 7:56 PM | Comment

Skilled Craftsperson for Wood Details


We are looking for a carpenter or contractor to help us carefully remove an original built-in closet from our parlor floor so that we can re-use some of the wood details in a new doorway we are constructing. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Categories: Carpentry
By Brownstoner | 08/31/2005 5:44 PM | Comment

Pocket Door Rollers


stove
I am renovating a 1908 limstone and am missing a set of rollers for a pocket door. Does anyone know of a source for a set of the old heavy brass rollers ( picture atached). Thank you

Categories: Doors
By Brownstoner | 08/31/2005 5:38 PM | Comment

Flooring Installation


If I purchase the materials (wood planks,luan, glue, etc) to install a hardwood floor (14′ by 18″), approximately how much should it cost someone to install the floor?

Categories: Floors
By Brownstoner | 08/31/2005 5:37 PM | Comment

Vintage Magic Chef Stove


stove
I’m looking for a two burner cast iron replacement for a stove that looks like this – the top part that comes out and that you put the pots on. Mine was cracked in someone else’s bitter divorce . . . or so the story goes . . . leaving us with use of 3 burners only. This little old Magic Chef came from Brooklyn, so I’m hoping it pops up in someone’s basement or backyard.

Contact guidoo_nospam@mac.com — take off the nospam part if you’re not a spammer. THX

Categories: Architectural Salvage
By Brownstoner | 08/31/2005 5:33 PM | Comment

Vintage Stove For Sale–Best Offer



I am getting rid of an old stove. I wanted to see if I could find a home for it. It was made by the Empire Stove Company of Illinois. I’m not sure of its age. It is in working order (except for 1 of the 4 burners).. I was planning on keeping it – but I was recently given a old Chambers stove by my aunt and uncle. I’m in Bed-Stuy. Best offer.

Categories: Architectural Salvage
By Brownstoner | 08/31/2005 8:30 AM | Comment

Wood vs Vinyl Windows


Seeking advice about WINDOWS for a center slope 3-story brick renovation in non-landmarked street, where most neighbors have replaced wood windows with something artificial. After getting bids from contractors, we’re looking to save money. Our architect specified Bonneville wood windows throughout. But wood, we said, needs maintenance and is pricier than vinyl. But vinyl, we’re told, is cheap and falls apart after a few years. Do the words “good quality” and “vinyl” never belong in the same sentence? Do wood windows require maintenance every 3-5 years? (Aluminum is out of our budget). What have you done? What companies besides Bonneville are worth considering? Thanks in advance.

Categories: Windows
By Brownstoner | 08/31/2005 8:24 AM | Comment

HVAC vs. Radiator


Seeking advice about HVAC vs RADIATOR heat for a center slope 3-story brick renovation. Looking to cut costs as we review contractor bids, one of the items in our plan is new duct work for HVAC: 2 heating/cooling zones (2-family), shared ducts and equipment for air conditioning and humidified forced hot air heat. We really love this idea, but our budget is calling for cuts. We feel its a real value to have the system put in, less for the AC and more for the humidified hot air. (I’ve visions of waking up with a crusty nose to refill the bowls of water on the radiators, not to mention the ear plugs I will need to shroud the deafening whistle and knocking when the heat kicks on) What do others advise? One idea is to install AC but leave radiators for heat, which to me seems like a job half-done.

Categories: Heating
By Brownstoner | 08/31/2005 8:20 AM | Comment

Listings on 22nd Street


I am looking for a place in South Slope and saw a few listings on 22nd Street and was wondering if anyone had seen any of the properties and what they thought about them.

Categories: Listings
By Brownstoner | 08/30/2005 1:01 PM | Comment

Cyrus Carpenter Range Wanted


I am looking for a Cyrus Carpenter #5 brickset cooking range, pat. 1885, Boston. These were common in row houses of the era. I intend to convert the oven to electric and burners to gas so a shell without internal dampers, etc would be fine.
Scott Hanson
sthanson@verizon.net

Categories: Kitchen & Bath
By Brownstoner | 08/30/2005 12:59 PM | Comment